Vocal efficiency parameters in children and adolescents: effect of physical development and singing activity

The influence of physical development and singing activity on vocal efficiency in children and adolescents is well known from clinical experience. There is, however, no comparative study between singing and non-singing children which also considers the influence of age and gender. Therefore, standar...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:HNO 2006-12, Vol.54 (12), p.971-980
Main Authors: Fuchs, M, Heide, S, Hentschel, B, Gelbrich, G, Makuch, A, Thiel, S, Täschner, R, Dietz, A
Format: Article
Language:ger
Subjects:
Adolescent
Body Constitution - physiology
Child
Female
Humans
Male
Physical Fitness - physiology
Sex Factors
Speech Production Measurement - methods
Voice Quality - physiology
Voice Training
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Summary:The influence of physical development and singing activity on vocal efficiency in children and adolescents is well known from clinical experience. There is, however, no comparative study between singing and non-singing children which also considers the influence of age and gender. Therefore, standard values for evaluation in clinical practice are missing. We examined the following parameters in 164 healthy children and adolescents (90 boys, 74 girls; 11-16 years), 86 without singing activity (group A) and 78 members of children's and youth choirs (group B): frequency and dynamic range of voice and its borders with a voice range profile, mean fundamental frequency (normal and loud phonation), maximum voice intensity, and maximum duration of intonation. The statistical analysis was performed using three-way ANOVA. We found significantly higher ranges of frequency and intensity in singing children and adolescents (p
ISSN:1433-0458
DOI:10.1007/s00106-005-1307-1